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Charred carcass of gaur found in Kui Buri National Park

Wimon Tapkhong,
Apichart Hongsakul
The Nation March 18, 2014 1:00 am

Confirming police officers' belief in the existence of a gaur-hunting gang in the tambon Khao Jao area of Prachuap Khiri Khan's Pran Buri district, provincial police chief Pol Maj-General Thanet Sunthorasuk yesterday ordered a speedy investigation of the case to gather evidence to bring the wrongdoers to justice.

On Sunday, Kui Buri National Park officials on patrol discovered the headless charred carcass of a gaur near Phraek Haeng Creek. Police also collected two spent bullets at the creek, fingerprints and gaur blood samples as evidence. The Sunday investigation showed that the hunters had apparently shot the gaur while it was drinking at the creek.

Thanet said a gang of poachers had killed the animal, cut off its head and removed the meat before burning the carcass to conceal the crime. He said a gaur head with horns could fetch Bt50,000-Bt80,000.

Meanwhile, Theerapat Prayurasiddhi, who oversees the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), said his office dispatched a veterinarian yesterday to re-examine the carcass before its burial.

Admitting that the area still faced the problem of poaching, Theerapat said the DNP had asked Kui Buri National Park officials to file a complaint with the Pran Buri Police Station for further legal action. The area where the carcass was found is said to be the feeding ground for gaurs and elephants and a special unit called "Khao Kho Laem" has been assigned to guard the area.